All About Us: July

July went by in a flash...We had such a wonderful month.

We started out the month celebrating Terron and Benson's birthdays and baptisms. They are birthday twins and it was so fun that they were able to be baptized together on their birthday. Even though Tanner was on call he was able to come down for the baptism before heading back home.

The kids and I drove home that night in a rainstorm and enjoyed watching the lightening and the frogs hop across the road.

We had Grandma and Grandpa, Natalie and Heather come up the night of the 3rd. They went with Tanner and the big kids to watch the fireworks.

They had fun with Tessa and Tiffany while watching the fireworks

Brittany came up with her kids the next day and we spent the day playing on the slip and slide.

Vivi went down for a nap right as the slip and slide was set up so I promised her she would get to play in the water when she woke up. By the time she woke up everything had been cleaned up, but Aunt Nattie helped me keep my promise by filling the pool back up. Porter and Jack had to join in on the water play.

The kids have loved playing four square volleyball and were especially thrilled when even the adults came out to play.

I made our flag cake and we sang Happy Birthday to America.

Eliza and Vivi enjoying Aunt Heather's shoes

Austin really wanted to make jello jigglers, so Grandma helped him with that.

Later that week, we were able to do the much anticipated trip to the Bishop's pond. The kids always have a blast playing on the kayaks, paddle boat, and other floaties. Chet even got to do some fishing and was able to catch two fish. One got flipped out of the boat, but the Bishop helped him fillet the other one and he fried it up at home.

Mariah had fun jumping through the tire tube.

Eliza and Vivi had a blast and were so comfortable in the water. Vivi was especially excited with the princess floaty that was just her size.

So so happy about his fish

Tanner and I working on our tans...actually just trying to recharge enough to get the kids packed up and home. We love the Vander Martins and are so grateful for their friendship.

Tanner was able to go on some bike rides throughout the month. He had to take an obligatory corn picture, it's July in Iowa after all.

We went to Nauvoo so we could watch the cousins in the pageants. I was able to survive the heat without getting too grumpy.

The boys had run off with cousins so Tanner and the girls had a photo shoot. I knew any extra layers on in that heat and humidity might ruin the fragile balance that was my mood so I sat out this time.

We've never done the oxcart ride and were lucky enough to take a short little ride before they had to stop because of work that they had to do in the yard. The kids had fun learning what the difference is between a cow and an oxen and they all managed to pet them without getting jabbed with a horn.

We learned that oxen are a lot slower than horses when we followed up the ox cart ride with a wagon ride for the umpteenth time. Never gets old though. We all love those draft horses.

The first night we were there, Tanner ran into a friend from medical school. They ended up staying the night in the same hotel as us so Tanner had to get a photo.

Vivi and Eliza were insistent on doing the Maypole and really wanted to do it with no help. I had to be sneakily helping Vivi the whole time and she was pretty annoyed with me but we got through it without any tears so I'll call it a success. I then took the two of them on a handcart ride and Eliza was disappointed that I didn't run like some of the teenage boys she saw...In my advanced pregnant state I was pretty proud of what I did, but you can't please everyone. Then we watched a puppet show and the kids all got to pick out a sock puppet. Mariah tried her hand at learning the highland fling and also learned some square dancing.

The Hilton cousins came up the first night of pageant to watch with us.

The next day we went to several shows with the cousins and went to the bootmaker's shop and a few other sights. Then we headed to where the cousins were staying and the kids swam in the pool while I persuaded Vivi to take a nap. She was a little put out about not swimming but was much happier that night. And I was happy to be in an air conditioned room for a while.

It was so wonderful to watch the two pageants with family in them! The first night we were in the back so it was harder to see and the kids weren't as engaged, but the next night we saved seats right in the front and our kids were so excited to see their cousins throughout the show. Nauvoo is such an amazing place, there are so many amazing things to see and do and it's all free! We are so lucky to be so close.

I really love this picture, just a little snapshot into our life where we all look happy...That's what I want to remember.

Four square Volleyball was played almost nightly.

We said bye to most of the cousins as they headed home from pageant. But Bethany stayed! Here she made pretzels with the kids while I napped. She was such an amazing help around the house. I was telling Tanner how I usually start to get pretty grumpy towards the end of my pregnancies but hadn't this time...and then I realized it was because of Bethany and all she did to help around the house. I was so spoiled.

Vivi in one of her daily getups: swimsuit, snowboots, and a bandaid without an owie.

And this is how we usually find her at night...looks comfy.

At the end of the month Aunt Mandy came to help with the baby! The kids were so excited to have her here. On Monday night we had a campfire for FHE and everyone ate way too many marshmallows.